Online Alerts

Urban Green Council Holds Webinar on LL97 Draft Rules

November 2, 2022    

In October, the city’s Department of Buildings (DOB) released its long-awaited draft rules on how building owners can cut their buildings’ carbon emissions to bring themselves in compliance with Local Law 97. Along with the release of the draft rules, DOB has also published the first...

Tenant Harassment Prevention Task Force Reaches Settlement with Large Landlord

October 19, 2022    

The Tenant Harassment Prevention Task Force recently announced a settlement with Greenbrook Holdings LLC. The landlord owns 188 buildings comprising approximately 1,000 units, many of which are rent...

NY Gets $100M More in Federal Emergency Rent Aid

October 5, 2022    

New York's state Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program will get $99.4 million in federal funds reallocated by U.S. Treasury officials. This recent payout to New York State is the third time the state has received federal dollars, and this should empty the first tranche of ERA funds...

Judge Certifies Class Action Over Rent Fraud Claims

September 21, 2022    

Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Sabrina Kraus recently granted class action certification to past and present tenants in 11 buildings who have sued their landlords. They are accused of “systemic evasion of the rent regulations” and, according to the judge, the tenants showed in...

A.G. Uncovers Illegal Scheme to Deregulate Apartments

September 7, 2022    

New York State Attorney General Letitia James recently announced that her office had secured $4 million from a group of 29 New York City landlords after uncovering an illegal kickback scheme by the management companies they employed to deregulate hundreds of rent-stabilized apartments in New...

Owner to Pay Nearly $2M for Illegally Harassing Tenants

August 10, 2022    

New York Attorney General Letitia James recently announced a settlement with Ink Property Group, owner of dozens of NYC apartment buildings. As part of the settlement, Ink will pay up to $1.75 million to preserve...

Mayor Sues to Shut Down Complex Illegal Short-Term Rental Operation

July 13, 2022    

Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Mayor's Office of Special Enforcement (OSE) Executive Director Christian J. Klossner recently announced a new lawsuit to shut down an illegal short-term rental operation at a building located in Turtle Bay.

Distribute Notice of Disability Accommodation Rights to Tenants by June 17

June 8, 2022    

Last March, Governor Cuomo signed into law a new provision requiring the New York State Division of Human Rights (DHR) to issue regulations requiring housing providers “to provide notice to all tenants and prospective tenants … of their rights to request reasonable modifications and...

Group of Owners, Brokers Settle Source-of-Income Discrimination Lawsuit

May 18, 2022    

Twenty-three owners and apartment brokers recently agreed to enact reforms to resolve a lawsuit alleging they routinely turned away prospective tenants seeking to use federal vouchers to supplement their rent. Originally filed in March 2022, the lawsuit claimed that 88 owners and brokers in the...

DOB Announces Return of Free, No-Penalty Inspection Programs

May 4, 2022    

On April 27, the DOB announced the return of two programs that will help building owners ensure the safety of their buildings without financial penalties. The two citywide initiatives — the No-Penalty Business Accessory Sign Inspection Program and the No-Penalty Deck and Retaining Wall...

Mayor’s Executive Order Strengthens Fire Safety Enforcement, Education

April 20, 2022    

New York City Mayor Eric Adams recently signed Executive Order 12 to strengthen fire safety enforcement and outreach in the aftermath of the tragic Twin Parks apartment fire in January. The executive order will increase coordination between Fire Department of New York (FDNY) and Department of...

NYC Sues Landlord with over 1,900 violations

April 6, 2022    

New York City Mayor Eric Adams recently announced that the city has filed a lawsuit against Moshe Piller, an owner who has amassed more than 1,900 violations across 15 rent-stabilized buildings he owns throughout the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Manhattan. Piller is ranked number 28 on the NYC public...